Flagstaff support



Aug. as, w46, M LANGE .2,405,701

FLAGSTAFF SUPPORT FiledJan. 21, 1944 66 f @E f Patented Aug. 13, 1946 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE FLAGVSTAFF SUPPORT Morris Lange, University Heights, Ohio Application January 21, 1944, Serial No. 519,121

9 Claims.

This4 invention relates to ilag or banner holders and particularly to the kind used on automobiles. Fora better understanding of this invention, it should be pointed out that automobiles have windows that vary in size and shape and that quite frequently the top frame portions of the windows are not parallel to the lower frame or sill portions. Therefore, prior art ag staff supports are more or lessl limited for use on only certain makes of automobiles, and are not entirely suited for general use. All closed body type automobiles, however, dorhave channelled window frames and by constructing the staii member as hereinafter described, so that engagement may be made with these channels, aflag holder having a wider application and universal use, may be had. This instant iiag is not apt to fall oi of the automobile while in use, and it also makes use of a more direct means for fixing the position of the adjustable arm member on the stair.

It is therefore the primary object of this irlvention to provide a ag stai support that will t ontoand securely engage the window panev channels of an automobile, without interfering, disturbing or obstructing the normal operation of the Windowand the mounting of which is entirely 'independent of the glass .pane or its condition or its operation.

Another object is to construct a device ofthe type mentioned that is quickly and easily mounted and which does not use metal springsor extraneous automatic tensioning devices of any l kind.

A further object isto provide a simple and ei-l Y Figure 1 is a view of themprovedilaglstaff support mounted on the window of an automobile; Y

Figure 2 is a sideV elevation` of the movable-arm and indicating positions it reaches during the locking operation; Y

Figure 341s a top plan-view of the movable-'arm indicia.

2 showing the locking cam in the unlocked position;

. r Figure 4 is a view similar to Figure 3, but showing the arm cam in the toggle position;

Figure 5 is a view similar to the one shown in the Figure 3, but showing the arm cam in the locked position;

Figure 6 is a front end view of the arm taken along the line and in the direction of the arrows 6 6 of the Figure 3; Figure 7 is a rear end view of the arm taken along the line and in the direction'of the arrows .I-l of the Figure 3;

Figure 8 is a vertical cross sectional view of the arm taken along the line and in the direction of the arrows 8 8v of the Figure 3;

Figure 9 is a vertical cross sectional view of the arm showing the toggle position indicated in the Figure 4;

Figure 10- is a vertical cross sectional View of the arm showing the cam inthe locked position of the Figure 5;

Figure 11 is a front view of the fixed base member; and

Figure 12 is a side view of the base member,

The instant invention broadly consists of a staii7 20, having a bottomV or base member 30 securely mounted thereon and a slidable arm member 50.

-Each-of these parts or members will be described in detail hereinafter and in the order set forth.

The stai member 20 is made of a straight grained resilient wood, such as hickory. It is simply a round rod 2 I, about twenty-two inches long and about seven-sixteenths of an inch in diameter. At the top end there is removably attached a .cloth banner `23 bearing any desired words or A small ball 22 isremovably mounted on the top end to prevent the banner from blowing 01T in a stiff breeze. The ball 22, referred to in the claims as the banner retaining portion, may be held on by friction, as shown, or may be screwed on, so that the'banner 23 may be yeasily changed or replaced. in

The1bas`emember`30, is vsimply a Wooden block aboutfour inches long, "an inch' wide and one'- half inch thick. It has a shallow channel 32 run'- ning lengthwise from end to end and ismade to iit the rounded "'sill' I8 jof the'kautomobile"window on Which it is mounted. While a padding is'not shown in the drawing, a soft felt'or rubber sheet may besecured'to the surface ofthe 'channel so `that the automoblefinish will not be marred 4`or This base member 30 has ahole in'thecenter in which the rod 2l securely lt's.l The rod 2| is secured in the hole rwith a suitable adhesive and is also retained therein by a laterally extending pin 31, which runs through the body 3I of the base member and also diametrically through the rod 2|. In practice, it has been found quite advantageous to rely almost entirely upon the pin 3l for connecting the rod and the base member together. By making the hole in the body 3i slightly larger than the rod 2| and by eliminating the adhesive entirely, the rod is enabled to pivot on the pin and to 'incline slightly. The body design of most modern automobiles is such that their window sills and top window frame mem#i bers are not always exactly parallel and the afore-l tach the rod 2I and the base member 30 toether. i the adhesive may dissolve during a rain and the I device may become affected thereby.

In ordery to rmly secure the base member 3G to the automobile, a small apron 35, hereinafter referred toasa flange, is mounted on one of the sides of the base. This apron 35 is simply a piece of sheet plastic, and is fastened to the wood base with a few small tacks 3S. y A metal sheet might also be used for this purpose. The thickness of the ange material should not be greater than a twenty gauge, nor should it be too thick to easily fit between the window pane and the frame. It should be fairly stili so that it will slide past the felt or rubber bead I4 touching the glass. It need extend only about one-half inch below the bottom edge of the base member 3Q. l

The arm member 6I! is formed of a small block of wood about four inches long, one inch thick and one and o ne half inches wide. Its forward or free end is shapedV as shown and has a concave portion 53, the upper side of which engages the convexlbottom surface of the top window frame I9. This concave portion may be, if desired, cov ered with a pad of some sort to prevent it from scratching the automobile. The extreme front edge E2 is provided with an apron or flange 64,

which ts into the channel I of the window frame I9. vThis flange Ell is secured to the arm 60 by small tacks or screws and it should also be thin enough to easily fit between the glass pane when closed, as indicated by the character Ila,

and the felt lining I6 in the channel. This flange 64' may be made of the same material as the aforementioned bottom flange 35.

The body or end of the arm adjacent to the rod 2I, indicated by the character 6I, has a hole 65 through which the stall member 2S may easily hole 66 and extends' through the end of the arm body.

,The earn member 68 is made of wood and has an eccentric shape somewhat as' shown. It is mounted in the aforementioned slot 'El' by the pivot pin 65. Its shape is such that when its free. or finger portion 69 is turnedv up, the bodyV of the cam will tightly press the rod 2 I when itisin the hole 6B and prevent its movement. When it is turned down the arm may freely move, turn or In order to prevent the vibration of the automobile or of the staff from loosening the cam 68, it is provided with a small bump or protuberance TI. Actually, this protuberance 1I is simply the round head of a very small nail or screw. The wood of the rod is relatively soft and resilient and the protuberance 1I is enabled to press therein and allow the cam to operate on either side of a dead-center position and to reach either its locking or unlocking position. In eiiect, the cam operates as a toggle and is either open or closed. Its open or normal position is indicated in the Figure 2 by the character 69. Its locking, holding or wedging position is indicated by the charaete' 69a and its intermediate or toggle position is indicated by the character 69D.

The cam member 63 is shaped as indicated and when assembled and mounted on the arm 68, the concave portion of the part B9 should be away from the staff member 20 and should face the stai when in the closed or engaging position.

It sh'oiild benoten that the arm member 68, when being tightened on the rod 2 I, has a tendency to creep upward on the rod. This is due primarily to the engagement of the protuberance 1I withthe rod and to the rolling action of the caniit'slf. This creeping movement, while relatively slight, fr'ther tightens the portion 83 against the window' frame and forces the iiange 54 up intoV thecharincl I5. It also, if the' arm member GII is' immediately applied too tightly to the frame, causes the rod 2I, to bow outward slightly and make it tense. This tension further suies the dvi to the automobile.

Among the many advantages' of this invention is the 'o'iitstandmg feature that permits it to be mounted entirely from the outside of the Vehicle. That is'it is not necessary to enter the' autobil to adjust or' chang tl'i`p0siti01 0f the window pane in order to mount the device. Any unskilled per'sonniay quickly mount several of the supports safely and without damage;. and when it is Vrecalled that iiag holders of this type are used primarily by undertakers for 'funeral prcessiois and where 'several of vthem have' to be jro'urited hastily on many different makes and styles of vehicles, some of which are` only brought into line the last minute, it becomes apparent why this feature is so important.

It" will now be Y'zl'e'ar that there is provided by this4 invention a nag staff support which accomplishes the objects set forth. While the invention has been vshown and described in its preferred form, it is to be understood that it is not to be considered in a limiting sense as other forms or modifications may also be regarded as being within the scope of the appended claims.

I claim: 4

1. A flag staii support. adapted to-be engaged between the sill and the top of an automobile window frame' comprising a staff, a base member on the bottom of the staff engageable with the sill, and an arm member slideably mountedon the staff above the base member, the said arm member having -a flange thereon engagea'ble with tlea'foresaid top.

2.- A device of the type dened in claim iaiid further characterized by the arm member' having a .cam means thereon for fixing its position ori the staii.v f

3. A iiag stair support adapted to be engaged between the silland the top of an' automobile window frame comprising a staff, a base' member on the bottom of the stair and having a flange portion thereon Aeiigageable with the aforesaid sill, and an arm member slideably mounted on the staff above the base member.

4. A device of the type defined in claim 3 and further characterized by the arm member having a clamp device thereon for fixing its position on the sta.

5. A flag sta support adapted to be engaged between the sill and the top of an automobile window frame comprising a staff, a base member mounted on the bottom of the stai and having a ange portion thereon engageable with the aforesaid sill, and an arm member slideably mounted on the staff above the base member and having a ange portion thereon engageable with the aforesaid top.

6. A device of the type defined in claim 5 and further characterized by the arm member having a fastening means thereon for xing its position on the staff.

'7. A flag stai support adapted to be engaged between the sill and the top of an automobile Window frame comprising a sta, a base member mounted on the bottom of the stai engageable with the sill of the aforesaid Window frame, an arm member slideably mounted on the stai above the base member and engageable with the said top, the said arm member having a hole therein through which the staff may slide, a slot opening into the hole, and a cam member mounted in the said slot adjacent to and operable in the said hole and .being capable of disengaging the sta when in a first or open position and of engaging the same When in a second or closed position.

8. A flag staH support adapted to be engaged between the sill and the top of an automobile window frame comprising a staff, a base member on the bottom of the stal engageable with the said sill, an arm member slideably mounted on the stai above the base member and engageable with the said top, the said arm member having a hole therein through which a stall may slide, a slot therein opening into the hole, and a cam member mounted on the said arm member adjacent to and operable in the said hole and being capable of disengaging the staff when in a first or open position and of engaging the same when in a second or closed position, the said cam member having a protuberance thereon which when engaged with the stair causes a toggle-like operation and effect whereby the said staff is either tightly held by or is freely slidable through the said arm member.

9. A device of the type defined in claim 8 and further characterized by the said arm member having a iiange thereon engageable with the top of the Window frame.

. MORRIS LANGE. 

